Tribute paid to thespian Gursharan Singh

Rich literary and musical tributes were paid to thespian Gursharan Singh on his 86th birth anniversary at a function organised by Bhaji Gursharan Singh Trust at Randhawa auditorium here on Tuesday.

Rich literary and musical tributes were paid to thespian Gursharan Singh on his 86th birth anniversary at a function organised by Bhaji Gursharan Singh Trust at Randhawa auditorium here on Tuesday.

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The programme commenced with a note of welcome by the thespian’s daughters Navsharan Kaur and Areet Kaur, who elaborated on the aims and future plans of the Trust, which was established to preserve the rich legacy of the legend.

Navsharan added that the Trust was in the process of re-recording over 30 audio albums of revolutionary songs by the legend.

The cultural evening began with senior artist Ram Kumar’s tribute song ‘Oh sach lyi jeeon da’, followed by a short play on land grabbing, ‘Gittu Mazbi di Dastaan’. The play was directed by Iqaatar Sahota. Delhi-based musical group Majma too presented songs.

Gursharan Singh was one of the undisputed stalwarts of Punjabi theatre. The highly decorated playwright-cum-director has authored over 175 socially relevant one-act and full-length plays and staged extensively in the region.

Born on September 16, 1929, at Multan, Gursharan Singh completed his MSc in Chemistry in 1951 and worked at Bhakhra project till 1962, when he realised that theatre was his true calling.

Acclaimed Delhi-based art historian Uma Chakrborthy hailed Gursharan Singh as an institution unto himself. She exhorted his followers to continue the fight against corruption and curb the heinous crimes against women, as advocated by the legend.The issues of caste, class and gender must be fought together, she added.